Your data is a goldmine. If you don’t secure it, the bad guys on the internet will be more than happy to have it.

Data security is a hot topic today. And that’s because more people are aware of the need to secure their personal information.

You don’t have to sweat over securing your data. With effective data security solutions, you can guard your sensitive information against intruders and attackers.

What Is Data Security?

Data security is the practice of protecting sensitive digital information such as confidential databases, files, computers, networks, and accounts from unauthorized access.

An effectively implemented data security adopts a set of techniques that match datasets and applies the most suitable security measures throughout its lifespan.

The 10 Effective Data Security Solutions and How to Implement Them

We live in a world where data is created with the speed of light. There’s more data in existence today than there was a decade ago. And that’s because more people are online, leaving digital footprints with their interactions.

The rising number of data gives cybercriminals more opportunities to launch attacks. Implementing the right data security solutions is essential in securing your network.

Let’s examine some of the options on the market you can choose from.

1. Data Discovery and Classification

Data discovery is all about scanning your database or network to determine where sensitive, structured, and unstructured data could reside.

Data classification, on the other hand, is a follow-up of data discovery that aims to identify the discovered data source through pre-defined forms or rules. And at the same time, assign cataloging labels to the discovered data.

Both data discovery and data classification work hand in hand. You can use both techniques to identify your data locations for easy protection. They also assist in setting up a policy for this sensitive data.

2. Identity Access Management

Identity Access Management (IAM or IdAM), also known as Identity Management (IdM), refers to a technology framework that ensures the right users or individuals in an organization gains access to the right tools at the appropriate time.

With effective IAM tools, a business setup can be more organized by managing its range of employees, hardware, software, and every digital machine.

As passwords and account breaching are popular points of failure for many internet users, IAM helps to seek out weak passwords or login details that are vulnerable to attacks. It also enhances productiveness among employees.

3. Data Masking

Data masking is the process of modifying or obfuscating a sensitive dataset, so it’s unrecognizable to an unapproved user.

This data security process prevents the exposure of valuable information or easily identifiable information from an outsider while still using a device or software. Data masking makes sensible data appear useless to potential hackers, thus reducing the likelihood of attack exposure.

One significant difficulty of data masking is that the modified dataset must possess the features of the original dataset that entail precise processing. At the same time, making the replica difficult for an outsider to pinpoint. Luckily, there’s software to make this process easier.

4. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Just as the term implies, these are a set of tools or software that monitors and senses a likely data breach, misuse, loss, or extraction by an unofficial user. It also works to prevent and block the breached data while in use, in its resting state, endpoint, and when in motion.

Data loss prevention can also be configured to comply with a relevant company’s policy, protect an organization’s intellectual information or properties, and secure data on distant cloud systems.

You can also apply DLP policy in company team chats, operating systems, emails accounts, and other company means of communication.

5. Password Hygiene

Password hygiene is the process of preventing poor password habits, which includes ensuring that your passwords are strong, unique, tough to crack, deduce, and not repeated.

As stated by Google, a major percentage of internet users are still struggling to create strong passwords. Since breaking down passwords is the first step for many cybercriminals through the use of brute force, social engineering, and data breaches, it’s essential to practice efficient password hygiene.

Some password hygiene practices to prevent password loss include the use of passphrases in place of passwords, avoiding recycling of passwords, encrypting passwords into password managers for easy access, and using two-factor authentication (2FA).

6. Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) is a disciplinary set of procedures that implant good business deeds in an organization to achieve its aim, purpose, and even ambiguity in an integrity manner.

A well-implemented GRC improves security, compliance, and progressive control effectiveness, and reduces risks in an organization.

With the proper use of GRC software, an organization’s strategic value and performance can be elevated. Routine tasks and follow-ups can be automated to reduce extra work hours or load.

7. Data Security Audits

Data security audits are the systematic evaluation of how the security of an organization’s information adapts to a set of ruled-out principles.

Organizations that run data security audits aim to identify the right security mechanisms and cross-check if they comply with the proper regulation.

Data security audits make it easy to identify an agency’s main information security flaws and strengths.

8. Authentication and Authorization

Authentication is the process of verifying the true identity of a user, while authorization verifies the exact files, applications, and data a user has access to.

Although authentication and authorization are used interchangeably, they are different. In every data security procedure, authentication must come before authorization.

Most importantly, irrespective of their positions, they play an important role in online security measures by identifying who a user is and preventing an unrecognized user into a network or device.

9. Data Encryption

When data is encrypted, it’s referred to as ciphertext, while unencrypted data is plaintext.

Data encryption is a process whereby data is turned into a code (ciphertext), where only a user with the right encrypted key can assess the coded data.

With the use of data encryption to store your data or information, there’s a high level of data maintenance, perseveration, and protection.

10. Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP)

Endpoint protection platform (EPP) is a comprehensive security technology installed on endpoint devices like mobile phones, laptops, servers, printers, or workstations to guard them against potential threats or attacks. The EPP is suitable for antivirus, intrusion prevention, data encryption, and data loss prevention.

While the significance of EPP technologies can’t be overlooked, it’s important to choose the right one for your device. Some devices come with outdated EPP software. It’s best to make upgrades before other installations to prevent loopholes for attacks.

Take Advantage of Data Security Solutions

Implementing data security in your network shouldn’t be a one-time activity but a continuous one because attackers are on their highest track.

Thanks to advanced technology, you don’t have to be a data security expert to use the above-listed security measures. You can give cybercriminals a run for their money once you are willing and ready to do so. It’s no longer business as usual.